I'd say the photo collection above accurately sums up David Ortiz's season so far. It hit rock bottom on Thursday as the Red Sox slugger (?) went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts, and left ... wait for it ... 12 men on base (Update: Ortiz was benched Friday night against the Mariners). On the Big Papi scale, this is a slump of appalling proportions. He's homer-less in his last 144 at-bats, one shy of his career-worst drought between 1998 and 2000. Is it time for fantasy owners to cut their losses with Ortiz?
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
Who would have thought that Dexter Fowler's five stolen base game wouldn't even last a week as the high steals game in 2009. Carl Crawford did him one better Sunday, taking six in as many chances. Crawford is now 17-17 in stolen base attempts this season. Lost in the shuffle was that his 4-4 day at the plate caused his average to rise all the way up to .317.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
The days where boos rained down upon Kosuke Fukudome seem like a distant memory.
Through nine games on the new season, the formerly-embattled center fielder is batting .375 with three homers, eight RBI, six runs and a steal for good measure. Compare that to his rookie campaign, where he only managed 10 big knocks in 501 at-bats. Should we believe in this new and improved Fukudome, or is it only a matter of time before fans are ripping him to shreds again?
As the Braves have stormed out of the gate to one of the best records in baseball, Tom Glavine has been battling a sore shoulder in an attempt to join them as the last member of the pitching rotation. After removing himself from a minor-league rehab assignment with soreness, he visited the famed Dr. James Andrews and was told that he has an inflamed rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.
He's been told by Andrews to completely shut down for two weeks before attempting to get himself back into game shape. What I'd like to know is why no one is telling him to just retire.
The Daily Jolt is a dose of baseball reality every weekday morning.
The Nationals made it official Thursday, inking slugger Adam Dunn to a two-year, $20 million deal and introducing him in Washington. Dunn fills a glaring need for the Nats -- left-handed power -- but he also creates a roster crunch that general manager Jim Bowden will have to clear up before the team heads north for the start of the season.
Of course, Washington isn't the only club with a bit of a logjam heading into Spring Training. Here are a look at five rosters that will need to be un-cluttered in the coming six weeks, and how they might be.
From the Windup is FanHouse's extended look at a particular portion of America's pastime.
Michael Young's time with the Texas Rangers has been punctuated by him making personal sacrifices to help better the team. After years as a good second baseman for the team with both the stick and the glove, he didn't have a problem when he was asked to move to shortstop in the wake of the Alex Rodriguez trade and the subsequent arrival of Alfonso Soriano. Sure, Young's offensive numbers didn't quite stand out at short quite like they did at second base, but it was about the team, not Michael Young
Since his move he's won a Gold Glove and has been named to the AL All-Star team five times. Well, now the Rangers would like him to make another sacrifice and move from shortstop to third base so they can make room for prospect Elvis Andrus. Only this time Young isn't down, and he's told the Rangers he's stood all he can stand and that he can't stand no more. He wants to be traded.
Were the Braves really this far away from landing Jake Peavy via trade that they had to settle on Javier Vazquez?
Pending a passed physical from Vazquez, that's exactly what has happened. Boone Logan is headed to Atlanta with Vazquez, while the package headed back to the White Sox includes Jo-Jo Reyes and Brent Lillibridge. Reports indicate an unnamed "top prospect" is going to Chicago as well.
The trade has been in the works for a few days, and rumors were no secret. It should be noted that neither Reyes nor Lillibridge have been the centerpieces in talks by the Braves to acquire Peavy. On the other hand, we know the Braves are interested in signing either Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett.
I'd be pretty surprised if the Braves traded these two young players, inked a Lowe-type contract, and traded the required windfall to net Peavy.
Thus, the significance of this deal -- to me -- is that it effectively eliminates the Braves from the Peavy sweepstakes.
July 31 is rapidly approaching. Buy or Sell lets each team know where they stand.
The Braves are stuck in one of the most interesting trade deadline conundrums I think I have seen in awhile. They have the talent to win this year, yet have gotten not justunlucky but also injured. The ability to win now is enhanced by a division that does not appear as strong as it did at the beginning of the season, what with the Braves only seven games back despite a 44-50 record.
We also don't know how new GM Frank Wren thinks, although if his trade deadline maneuvering is as aggressive as his early and midseason moves, I don't expect to see a whole lot. Wren has, for the most part, seemed content to let the roster play out as it stands, rather than attempt to make an early play to help out the pitching rotation.
For that reason, I think the Braves are/should/need to become sellers. I hate giving up on a season at the All-Star break, but as noted by the link to SOSG above, the Braves had the potential to be an elite team this year and just haven't caught any breaks.
Spot Jobs gambles by picking five spot starters for the week and five usual starters to avoid. The success rate is usually around 50%, but the risk level is always through the roof. Obviously, though, you always start Brandon Webb (when healthy) and sit Dave Bush.
Five Up
Josh Johnson, Marlins, @SD -- It's been a long time since Johnson pitched in the majors. He will again this week, though. Back in 2006 Johnson compiled a 3.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to go with his 12-7 record. He also punched out 133 hitters in 157 innings. This week he gets to re-join his Marlins teammates in the pitcher's paradise that is Dodger Stadium.
Justin Verlander, Tigers, vs. Tribe -- He's been a colossal disappointment this year, but he's starting to turn the corner just as the offense has awakened ... and the Indians can't hit.
Jeremy Guthrie, O's, @ Toronto -- He's maddeningly inconsistent, but is dazzling when he's on, which means you have to play matchups. The Jays are towards the bottom in most AL offensive categories, so this one fits the bill.
Jo-Jo Reyes, Braves, @ SD -- Talented, young pitcher looking for his way? Enter spacious Petco Park and the Padres putrid offense (Adrian Gozalez excepted, obviously).
Sean Marshall, Cubs, vs. Giants -- Cubs like to play at home. Giants hit .265 on the road. Marshall just dealt against the Cards on the road. All signs point to "yes" here.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
As the Braves have stormed out of the gate to one of the best records in baseball, 
The 
Wait, what? 
July 31 is rapidly approaching. 
Spot Jobs gambles by picking five spot starters for the week and five usual starters to avoid. The success rate is usually around 50%, but the risk level is always through the roof. Obviously, though, you always start 
